Rem 700 7mm mag. need advice

[SDHNTR]

Yes, I definitely agree with that. I have several 700 actions that have been through a handful of barrels. I’m still not super convinced on the whole blueprinting though, not in a hunting rifle anyway

I have a couple that have been blueprinted and have owned or have worked on countless others that haven’t. My blueprinted ones shoot and function as well as anything full custom. The ones that haven’t are a crap shoot, might get a good one, might get a problem child — receiver holes for scope mounts not straight, bridge heights different, bolt timing off, no primary extraction, poor bolt lug fit, poor hold handle and/or bolt shroud fit at the back of the receiver, poor tenon threads, receiver and/or bolt face not square, firing pin hole not concentric to bore or too big, the list goes on and on.

 

[GARLICSALT]

I’m not saying they can’t. I thought the idea was to maximize potential and semi customize the thing. If not, then yes, bed the action, float the barrel and find your load. And in the case of an older 700, definitely a new trigger.

What brand trigger do you like/recommend for the 700? After reading about trigger issues with Rem 700 due to dust and sand, this is something that I would like to upgrade.

 

[SDHNTR]

What brand trigger do you like/recommend for the 700? After reading about trigger issues with Rem 700 due to dust and sand, this is something that I would like to upgrade.

They all have the same closed box design that makes them prone to dust and ice failures, but if you keep them clean and dry, those issues are more Internet lore than reality. Not saying they don’t happen, it’s just rare in the real world, unless you are intentionally trying to make them fail.

That said, I’m far more concerned about the safety issues than I am the performance issues. Performance is comparable, and they can all slam fire too. None are perfect, but all are likely better than the original Walker or the XMark. The Geissele Super 700 is probably the best of the bunch, but hard to find. Trigger tech or Timney, pick your poison.

 

[Cherokeeguide]

What Smith did you take it to? And where in SoCal do you live?

I just went through the same deal with a buddy and his 700. It’s probably not worth spending the money on that it would take to really do a complete job, unless there is some sentimental attachment. You’d be talking about $500 worth of blueprinting, and another $600 for a good barrel and chamber cut. Plus another $200 for a trigger, and $150-$200 for stock bedding.

$1,500.00 sounds like a bargain.

Before "Big Green" went "tango-uniform" the last time, I had Remington's custom shop build me what was essentially a Model 700 XCR II in a AAA-grade, Claro walnut stock. It cost over $2,100.00.

I did that to avoid the frustration of having a 700 built wrong and get one closer to my bench-built c. 1950 Remington 721 that I should have never sold.

When my 721 (which was "new in the box" when I bought it back in 2011) was new in 1950, it had a base MSRP of about $90.00 compared to its Winchester rival, the Model 70, which started off at $110.00 and went up from there.

Those prices sound cheap, but if the sport of yore had to use 2026 dollars to buy one or the other new, the Remington 721 would have cost him $1,233.16 or more in today's money, while the fancier Model 70 would have set him back the equivalent of $1,507.26 or more in 2026 dollars. Which ever one he decided on, he was paying cash for it, as credit cards allowing one to rent their lifestyle weren't "a thing" back then.

A Model 700, built like one is supposed to be built, should cost the equivalent of $1,200.00 to $1,500.00 today, like they always have since 1963, and like the bench-made 721 did before that.

In light of this, I don't think that spending $1,500.00 on gunsmithing a 700 into something that would bring the person doing it joy is unwise.

But I'd rather have my Remington 721 or my custom shop Remington 700 back than a Tikka T3x, too.

 

[Sadie]

Another thought. As said above a tuned up 700 receiver is really nice and no plastic crap magazine parts, magazines are long enough that you can seat most bullets where you want. If changing barrels they should be throated to accommodate the bullets you want to use. Taken care of one will last a few life times.